A lawsuit filed Friday contests construction plans around Gadsden Creek on the west side of the Charleston peninsula. The suit, filed by the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) in state Administrative Law Court, is a formal objection to a permit issued by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) that would allow construction to move ahead on the WestEdge development, affecting about four acres of tidal creek wetland.

SCELP is representing the Friends of Gadsden Creek advocacy group in the proceedings.

“We are alarmed that the state agency charged with safeguarding our precious coastal tidelands issued a permit that allows for the complete destruction of a tidal creek so that slightly larger hotels, condos and office buildings can be built,” said Ben Cunningham, an SCELP attorney.